Nigerian passport holders are expected to gain visa-free entry into two additional African countries from January 1, 2027, following decisions by the governments of Chad and the Republic of the Congo to remove visa requirements for African nationals.
The new policies will allow Nigerians and citizens of other African countries to travel to the two destinations without securing entry visas before departure.
The decisions form part of wider efforts across the continent to promote free movement, deepen regional integration and facilitate easier travel and trade among African countries.
1. Chad
Chad is set to scrap entry visa requirements for nationals of African countries from January 1, 2027.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno announced the policy in July 2026, explaining that the initiative was designed to promote African integration and encourage the free movement of people and goods across the continent.
Under the new arrangement, Nigerians and other African nationals will be able to enter Chad without obtaining an entry visa beforehand.
2. Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo, commonly known as Congo-Brazzaville, is also planning to eliminate visa requirements for citizens of all African countries from January 1, 2027.
President Denis Sassou Nguesso announced the decision during the 2026 African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings in Brazzaville.
He said citizens of African countries would no longer need visas to enter the Republic of the Congo from the stated date, although minimal administrative and security requirements would remain.
The measure is aimed at strengthening continental integration and promoting the free movement of Africans, while complementing initiatives under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Visa-free destinations for Nigerian passport holders
The following countries are listed as destinations accessible to Nigerian passport holders without a prior visa or with visa-on-arrival arrangements:
- Barbados
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi – Visa on arrival
- Cambodia – Visa on arrival
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde Islands
- Chad
- Comoro Islands – Visa on arrival
- Cook Islands
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Iran – Visa on arrival
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Madagascar – Visa on arrival
- Maldives – Visa on arrival
- Mali
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Niger
- Niue – Visa on arrival
- Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
- Rwanda
- Samoa – Visa on arrival
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- The Gambia
- Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu